The Mindbody Prescription
by John Sarno, MD

Healing Back Pain
by John Sarno, MD

Mind Over Back Pain
by John Sarno, MD

TMS Info\How to Cure TMS

FYI:  I've just moved the TMS info from the old Premier site over to this one.  Pretty soon I'll go through and edit/update this stuff, but for now I'll just leave it all the way it was.

In order to cure this syndrome, you must go as far back in the chain of events as possible and treat the root cause.  Conventional treatments might go back a step or two--pain relievers treat the physical symptoms, massage or ultrasound treatments address the physiological changes--but they don't address the root cause. 

In order to completely eliminate all symptoms, you must identify which unacceptable emotions are threatening your self-image.  The physical symptoms are present for a reason:  They distract your attention away from the unacceptable emotions.  Once you acknowledge the threatening emotions, the symptoms no longer work as a distraction, and they go away.  Quite dramatically, I might add.  You don't even need to eliminate the source of the stress--you just have to become aware of it.

Since we're talking about unconscious emotions, they might not immediately be apparent.  Recognizing them might take some work.  A daily meditation period, during which you take time to notice all the thoughts and feelings that float through your head, is a very beneficial practice.  And try making a list of expectations, or requirements, that you have for yourself, and see which of those requirements are being threatened by your current situation.  Very often, we require life to be fair.  "I'm a good person, I deserve good things to happen to me."  Unfortunately, life is rarely fair, and it can become a source of intense anger.  

You also have to completely believe in the TMS diagnosis.  That means that you have to completely accept the fact that your symptoms are emotionally induced.  If you still believe that there may be something physically or structurally "wrong" with you, you're not yet "cured."  You're not paying attention to the underlying emotions, which means that the symptoms can still work as a distraction, and it's likely that they will return.  

It's also important to completely resume your normal activities.  If you're still afraid to sit in a soft chair or pick up your kids or bend over to tie your shoes, you're not "cured" yet, either.  As long as you're living in fear of another attack, the physical symptoms still have your attention, and chances are good that they'll return.    

Many people can eliminate their symptoms simply by reading one of Dr. Sarno's books.  Some people need a little more help.  If reading his book doesn't "cure" you, there are a few other options:

• Check out other information resources.  Understanding and completely accepting the TMS diagnosis and treatment approach is crucial.  It helps to have these ideas reinforced by several sources.  You can listen to the RealAudio samples we have on our site.  You can purchase The MindBody Workbook from Dr. David Schechter's website or from Amazon.com.  
• If possible, see an MD who is trained to diagnose and treat TMS.  If you live in the New York area, see Dr. Sarno.  If you live in the Los Angeles area, see Dr. Schechter.  Check out the Directory for TMS physicians in your area.
• Sometimes it's necessary to meet with a psychotherapist.  As I mentioned before, it's not always easy to make unconscious emotions become conscious.  A skilled therapist can be a big help. When looking for a therapist, try to find someone who is analytically trained, since they are specifically trained to deal with the unconscious mind.
• Feel free to discuss your experiences with others on our message board.  Support groups can be helpful sometimes, but they can also become a bit of a wallowing ground, especially on the internet (as mentioned in Step 4).  If you decide to peruse the support newsgroups for fibromyalgia, chronic pain, etc., please do not let their posts dash your hopes for recovery.  
• Be patient, be persistent, and be kind to yourself.  Nosing around in your unconscious mind can be very uncomfortable.  Some people are not quite ready for this approach, which is understandable, considering the current state of western medicine.  Don't beat yourself up if you don't immediately find relief.  But please don't throw in the towel.  I assure you that Dr. Sarno's method works. 

On to A TMS Case Study

Back to Step 4:  Full-blown Syndrome